The 30-year-old’s career was revived by Puel at Nice last season, and the now-Saints boss helped Ben Arfa secure a dream move to boyhood club Paris Saint-Germain last summer.

Yet Ben Arfa has started just six Ligue 1 games for PSG since, with Unai Emery seemingly unconvinced that the forward deserves to be in his first XI.

Ben Arfa’s lack of PSG gametime had led to reports that he could rejoin Puel at St Mary’s for the 2017/18 campaign, but the Southampton boss insists the south-coast club simply cannot afford the forward.

Former Newcastle forward Hatem Ben Arfa (Image: AFP)

However, there are reports that Ben Arfa will depart the Parc des Princes this summer - with a return to England touted, even if it appears Southampton will not be his destination.

“The PSG choice? I think it is interesting for him to find himself in this kind of club,” Puel told Le10Sport.

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“It’s one of the top three or four clubs in Europe in terms of potential, it’s a challenge.